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L-R: Wife of the President of Germany, Mrs Gerhild Gauck, Deputy Governor of  Lagos State, Dr Oluranti Adebule, President, Federal Republic of Germany, Mr Joachim Gauck, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, his wife, Bolanle and Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, during the visit of the German President to Lagos, yesterday

L-R: Wife of the President of Germany, Mrs Gerhild Gauck, Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Oluranti Adebule, President, Federal Republic of Germany, Mr Joachim Gauck, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, his wife, Bolanle and Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, during the visit of the German President to Lagos, yesterday

Adamawa
Secretary, Adamawa State Emergency Management
Agency, Mr Haruna Furo,  said that about 90 per cent of Internally Displaced Persons in the various camps in the state had returned home.
Furo, who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Yola, said the affected persons were from seven local government areas of the state.
“Following recapturing of the areas and return of normalcy, about 90 per cent of the displaced persons in the camps have left.
“The displaced persons that remain in the camps are those whose villages are at the fringes of Sambisa, who felt it is still not safe to go back home,’’ Furo said.

Borno

No fewer than 1,500 women gave birth in 28 Internally
Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Borno State in 2015, the State Primary Health Care Management Board said in Maiduguri recently.
The Executive Secretary of the Board, Dr Sule Mene, told newsmen that the deliveries were recorded between January 2015 and January 2016.
Mene said about 14,600 pregnant women received anti-natal health care, psycho-social services and child nutrition support.
He said that the agency had also received about 1,200 severe medical cases, which were referred to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) for proper care.
The official said the agency had established 20 Integrated Primary Health Care Centres for IDPs in all the camps to provide integrated primary health care and referral services.
“The Borno Government has procured health kits for each of the IDPs to help cater for their immediate needs”.

FCT

The Director-General, Small and Medium Enterprises De
velopment Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Alhaji Bature Masari, has urged Nigerian youths to imbibe the culture of entrepreneurship in order to check the high level of unemployment.
This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by Mr Ibrahim Kaula, the Head Corporate Affairs of SMEDAN.
Masari spoke when officials of a youths organisation, “Dogara Youths Vanguard’’ paid him a courtesy visit.
He noted that the challenges of unemployment could best be tackled when the youths keyed into various enterprise development and skill acquisition training programmes being organised by SMEDAN.
“Your best option as young men and women is to imbibe the entrepreneurship skills and development of business ideas through a variety of programmes offered by SMEDAN”.

Kaduna

Senator Shehu Sani, representing Kaduna Cen
tral, has given President Muhammadu Buhari tips on how to handle his vacation.
He said Buhari needed rest and must avoid anything that could distract him.
A statement he issued, reads: “These are the 11 things our amiable president should do in order to fully enjoy his five days holidays.
“Shut down your Facebook account for the duration of the holidays. “Freeze your twitter accounts for the duration of the holidays.
“Shut down your phone and get a new foreign SIM card only accessible to your immediate family members and instruct them not to give that number to anyone outside of the family. Nigerian SIM card will always have a way of popping up local news through bulk sms.
“Avoid reading newspapers both foreign and local; and if you must read foreign avoid the Africa section”.

Kano

The former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido,
has called on Nigerian youths to promote unity and peaceful co-existence.
Lamido made the call when the executive members of Arewa Social Media Forum, a Non Governmental Organisation, paid him a courtesy visit in Kano.
He said that the call was necessary “because youths are the future leaders of the country and have significant role to play to ensure the sustenance of peace and unity”.
“The main issue before you is to ensure that Nigeria is a country of peace because the future is yours.
“In the next 20 years nobody will talk about Sule Lamido or Buhari even if we are alive, but the legacies we leave behind. So, the future is yours,” he said.
The former governor said that as a social media group, members of the forum had the capacity to enlighten people on the need for peace and unity in the country.

Kogi

Some residents of Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, have
decried the new electricity tariff introduced in February, saying its imposition would only add to their burden.
The residents, some of whom are civil servants who are yet to receive their four months salaries made the statement on Saturday in Lokoja in separate interviews with our correspondent.
Stressing that they had been contending with estimated billings all these years in spite of irregular power supply, the respondents urged the government to suspend the new tariff for now.
Alhaji Ocholi Aku, who lives in Adankolo area in Lokoja, said that some consumers who did not have pre-paid metres were compelled to pay electricity bill amounting to N7, 000 each month.
“How will such consumers be able to cope with the new tariff? As I am speaking I cannot boast of electricity for four hours in a day yet my bill is constant”

Kwara
A group, Kwara State Coalition Group, (KSCG), has ap
pealed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and other incorruptible judges in the country to prevail on judges handling various fraud cases to deliver justices with fear of God.
It expressed concern about the rate at which corrupt high profile people in the society were purchasing justices in their own favour.
The group, in a statement issued and signed by Saliu Ajia and Secretary, Batuta Sani said such attitude had given the corrupt elements the confidence that no matter the amount they stole, they would eventually get their way.
KSCG, particularly raised the alarm over a recent alleged move by one of the prominent leaders in the National Assembly, who is facing trial on corruption to lure the judges handling his matter to his own side.
Lagos

The Nigerian Navy has commenced Basic Marine Op
eration Course (BMOC) for 40 policemen on countering maritime crimes, Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo, Flag Officer Commanding Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC) has said.
Osinowo, who made the disclosure while addressing newsmen in Lagos, said that the training would be held at the Naval Training Command, Apapa.
He said that the training would enable the policemen counter maritime crimes like pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, among others.
“The course, which will last for 12 weeks, is targeted at developing the capacity for marine operations for personnel of the marine wing of the Nigerian Police.

Osun

Erstwhile President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on Fri
day doubted the ability of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s Federal Government to rescue the abducted Chibok girls alive.
Speaking at an event organised by the Staff Club of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State,
Obasanjo affirmed that anyone saying the girls would return was simply lying.
Obasanjo’s reaction follows severalpromises by the current administration that it would rescue the abducted Chobok girls alive.
Obasanjo blamed the immediate past  President, Goodluck Jonathan for trivialising the distress call to rescue the girls on the day they were abducted.

Oyo

A food scientist with Institute of Agricultural Research
and Training (IAR&T) Ibadan, Dr Elizabeth Farinde,  has urged the Federal Government to fund biotechnology to ensure food security.
Farinde made the call in an interview with newsmen in Ibadan.
The scientist said that biotechnology was an improved method to boost food production, stressing that it was reliable and fast.
“Although biotechnology is a bit expensive, it will make work easier for farmers as well as enhance production of more food in the country,” she said.

Taraba

The Catholic Bishop of Jalingo Diocese, Most Rev.
Charles Hamawa, has urged the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to redouble its effort in the campaign for national rebirth.
Speaking with newsmen in Jalingo, Hamawa said the country required aggressive ethical orientation to enable it tackle the menace of corruption, insurgency and indiscipline.
The cleric noted that the lack of conformity to ethical values among the people was responsible for most of the troubles confronting the country.

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HYPREP Marks 15 Years Of UNEP Report, Highlights Major Cleanup Milestones

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The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has commemorated the 15th anniversary of the release of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Assessment Report on Ogoniland, reaffirming its commitment to restoring the environment and improving the livelihoods of affected communities.

In a statement signed by the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, to commemorate the anniversary, HYPREP described the anniversary as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s environmental restoration efforts, noting that the project has made remarkable progress in implementing the recommendations of the landmark UNEP report released on August 4, 2011.

The UNEP report had revealed extensive oil pollution across Ogoniland, severe environmental degradation, and serious public health risks resulting from decades of petroleum operations. It also recommended an initial $1 billion fund to commence the cleanup of the affected communities.

According to HYPREP, the Federal Government formally launched the Ogoni clean-up in 2016, while the Project Coordination Office was established in 2017 to drive the implementation of UNEP’s recommendations.
Zabbey said the current administration has continued to prioritise the project under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Providing an update on the cleanup, the Project Coordinator disclosed that 30 of the 65 contaminated sites identified by UNEP have been fully remediated, while work is ongoing at several medium- and high-risk locations. It also stated that more than 1.5 million mangrove seedlings have been planted as part of what it described as the world’s largest restoration of oil-degraded mangroves, with over 1,000 hectares of shoreline already rehabilitated.

Zabbey further revealed that 49 Ogoni communities have been connected to potable water schemes through multiple water projects and booster stations aimed at providing safe drinking water across the region.

In the health sector, he said the 100-bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital in Kpite and the 43-bed Cottage Hospital in Buan are nearing completion, adding that several existing health facilities have been upgraded with modern medical equipment, while five ambulances have been donated to improve emergency healthcare services. The Project Coordinator also disclosed that a three-year human health biomonitoring study is being conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

On economic empowerment, Zabbey stated that the Project has created more than 8,000 direct jobs and trained thousands of Ogoni youths and women in various vocational and technical skills, including software development, cybersecurity, aviation, commercial diving, seafaring, mechatronics, and creative arts. The project also reported awarding scholarships to more than 1,000 students, providing grants to small businesses, and supporting persons living with special needs through skills acquisition programmes.

The statement further highlighted ongoing legacy projects, including the Ogoni Power Project and the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, which it said is about 96 per cent complete. HYPREP also welcomed the recent designation of the Ogoni Wetland as a Ramsar Site of International Importance and pledged to continue promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of the ecosystem.

Marking the anniversary, Zabbey said the progress achieved over the past 15 years demonstrates the collective commitment of government, development partners, stakeholders, and local communities to restoring Ogoniland. He called for renewed collaboration to sustain the cleanup effort, promote environmental sustainability, and support the long-term development of the region. 3

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REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

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The Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (REAN) says it has strengthened collaboration with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to enhance quality control and enforcement frameworks.
Mr Oisereime Lloyd-Dietake, the Head of Communications, REAN, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, said the collaboration would also involve stakeholder engagement on testing, certification and capacity building in Nigeria.
He said the synergy would strengthen quality control and enforcement frameworks, promote policy alignment, and ensure stronger regulation across the renewable energy value chain.
“REAN reaffirms its commitment to standardisation and quality assurance; tighter collaboration with SON is critical to eliminating fake and substandard renewable energy products from the Nigerian market.
“Enforcement and gaps in existing standards have continued to allow inferior products to circulate, undermining consumer confidence and slowing sector growth.”
Lloyd-Dietake said that at high-level discussions, REAN also highlighted the need for stronger regulatory coordination to address emerging challenges in the renewable energy space.
According to him, the issues include inconsistencies in standards, affordability issues linked to certification processes; and the increasing presence of substandard solar and renewable energy equipment in the country.
“The association further raised concerns about delays in product testing and approval, calling for the establishment of more testing laboratories and certification facilities to improve efficiency and reduce bottlenecks in the system,’’ he said.
Lloyd-Dietake urged closer collaboration among key regulatory bodies, including the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, and the Rural Electrification Agency.
He said such team work would ensure harmonised standards and more effective enforcement against fake renewable energy products in the Nigerian market.
In response, SON acknowledged the important role REAN continued to play in supporting standardisation within Nigeria’s renewable energy industry and reaffirmed its willingness to deepen collaboration with the association.
SON further confirmed that REAN would be actively involved in future standard review processes and upcoming stakeholder engagements related to renewable energy and electric mobility standards development.
Lloyd-Dietake said REAN affirmed its willingness to formalise the partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
He said the MoU is aimed at deepening cooperation, promoting quality assurance, and accelerating Nigeria’s transition towards reliable and standardised renewable energy solutions.
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Self Help Africa programme expands water access for 320,000 Nigerians

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The WASH Systems for Health (WS4H) Programme, implemented by Self Help Africa, has expanded access to safe water and sanitation services for more than 320,000 people in Kano and Cross River States.
The organisation disclosed this on Tuesday at the WS4H National Results and Learning Workshop in Abuja, where stakeholders reviewed achievements and lessons from the intervention.
Speaking at the event, Self Help Africa Country Director, Joy Aderele, said the programme demonstrated that sustainable WASH improvements require strong institutions, effective governance, adequate financing and collaboration.
Aderele said the UK-funded programme was designed to strengthen systems that support sustainable access to water, sanitation and hygiene services.
According to her, the intervention focused on improving governance, planning, financing, accountability and sector coordination to ensure resilient service delivery.
“More than 320,000 people now have improved or restored access to water services through programme-supported interventions,” she said.
She added that more than 5,520 household toilets were constructed in Yala and Makoda Local Government Areas, boosting sanitation, public health and efforts to end open defecation.
Aderele said the programme also strengthened public investment in WASH, with Cross River increasing its sector budget by 211 per cent in 2026 and Kano by 169.07 per cent.
She added that dedicated WASH budget lines had been established across 40 Ministries, Departments and Agencies in both states, strengthening accountability and institutional commitment.
According to her, both states reviewed and adopted updated WASH policies, while key planning documents were developed to guide future investments and service delivery.
She said Cross River also recorded a major legislative milestone through the passage of the Water Law and Open Defecation Prohibition Bill.
Aderele added that lessons from interventions in Yala LGA were already informing expansion efforts in Obubra Local Government Area.
While commending the achievements, she noted that capacity gaps, resource constraints and climate-related pressures remained challenges to sustainable WASH services.
“The sustainability of these gains will depend on continued government leadership, adequate financing, strong partnerships and investment in institutional capacity,” she said.
Also speaking, the Programme Manager of WS4H, Mr Timothy Ibeawuchi, said the intervention focused on strengthening systems needed to sustain gains and attract future investments.
According to him, the programme engages stakeholders in developing strategies that preserve achievements and support long-term service delivery.
“System strengthening work takes time because it addresses the fundamental issues responsible for sustainable and resilient service delivery,” he said.
Ibeawuchi said the programme strengthened policy development, planning, financing, monitoring and evaluation systems across the WASH sector.
He said two pilot local government areas were supported to develop WASH strategic plans outlining sector goals, targets and activities between 2026 and 2030.
According to him, the plans will guide future interventions and improve service delivery in the affected councils.
Earlier, the representative of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Chidera Chukwu, reaffirmed support for Nigeria’s development efforts in spite of the programme nearing completion.
Chukwu commended the Self Help Africa-led consortium for delivering the programme with professionalism and a strong focus on systems strengthening.
He said the consortium contributed greatly to strengthening Nigeria’s WASH sector through policy reforms, improved coordination and enhanced accountability.
“Together, we have advanced key policy and legislative reforms, including open defecation-free laws and strengthened state WASH frameworks,” he said.
According to him, the reforms represent enduring system-level changes that will continue delivering benefits beyond the programme’s lifespan.
In his remarks, Mr Jamilu Habu, Director of Water Quality Control and Sanitation, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, commended the programme’s achievements.
Habu, who represented the Permanent Secretary, said the intervention strengthened governance, coordination, evidence-based planning and institutional capacity in the WASH sector.
He described the workshop as an opportunity to review achievements, share lessons and identify pathways for sustaining and scaling successful interventions.
According to him, the programme’s innovations and best practices will guide future policies and investments aimed at expanding access to safe WASH services.
Habu stressed the need for continued collaboration among governments, development partners, civil society organisations, the private sector and communities.
He said stronger partnerships remained essential to achieving universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene services and meeting Sustainable Development Goal 6.
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